Improvement in thread-waxing devices for sewing-machines



H'. P. ALDRICH.

Thread WaxngDevee for Sewing Machines.

- Paten'led May 30, .1865.

No.j 47,912l

umgnpmr. wnsmngw", n. a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOSEA P. ALDR'ICH, OF SPENCER,`MASSAGHUSETTS, ASSIGNR TO HIMSELE AND GEORGE JENKS, 0F SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN THREADE-WAXING DEVICES FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part ot' Letters Patent No. 47,912, dated May 30, ISGS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HosEA P. ALDRICH, of Spencer,in the county of \Vorcester and State ot' Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and Improved Device for Waxing Thread in Shoemaking; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description ofthe construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents -a perspective view of said device for waxing thread. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section through the same. Fig. 3 represents a detached` view hereinafter to be referred to.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents a receptacle, made ofmetal, in which the wax is melted. It is heated by means ot' a lamp, B, the burner of which is inserted into the lower end of the chimney C, which latter is also made of metal, and passes through the receptacle A, as represented on the drawings.

To prevent the wax from burning, I provide the lower part ot' the receptacle A'with a water-compartment, D, which is thus interposed between the direct heat ot' the lamp and the wax, and the temperature of the latter can therefore never exceed the boiling-heat `ot the water in the compartment D. For the same reason I surround the chimney C to a certain height with a water-jacket, E, which is in connection with the compartment D, and thus the wax is nowhere exposed to the direct action of the heat of the lamp.

The compartment D is tilled with water by means of the funnel F, and the air and steam are permitted to escape through the pipe G.

The Ventire apparatus is to be secured to a sewing-machinensed in shoemaking, and may be fastened thereto by means of a bolt, El, which passes through the bolt-tube I, the part K shown on the drawings representing part of a sewing-machine frame.

The thread to be waxed is passed through the receptacle A, in the manner shown on the drawings, passing around the bolt-tube I, which thus serves as a thread-guide to prevent the thread from tangling; but it is essential that after the thread is saturated with waX the surplus wax should he removed and the thread should be compressed, so as to impart ltoit a certain rmness and smoothness, which renders it easy to pass through the needle and leather. This object I attain by the application of the tube L, through which the thread is passed after it is saturated with wax.

Within the tube L is a hollow screw, M, whose inner end is made concave. The inner socket ot' the tube L is also made concave, and a plug, O, of india-rubber, which is convex at both its ends, is inserted into the space between the socket ofthe tube L and the end ot' the screw IVI. The india-rubber 0 is pierced for the passage of the thread through it, and the thread in passing through it is deprived ot' all superfluous wax, is firmly compressed, rendered smooth, and while still warm is ready for the operator, thus greatly facilitating the work.

` It is evident that the force with which the thread is compressed by the india-rubber must depend uponV the thickness and strength ot the thread, and that it istherefore necessary that the pressure of the india-rubber upon said thread can be regulated. This I effect by making the ends ot" the india-rubber plug O convex, and when the latter is compressed by operating the screw M, the ends ot' the indiarnbber 0 are compressed first, and this is very essential, as small knots and other unevennesses in the thread will easilyovercotne the pressure of the ends, which are thinner'than the diameter ot' the plug, in passing'lthrongh the india-rubber without causing the thread to break, which would certainly occur if the entire body ot' the india-rubber should be compressed, as would doubtless be the case if the ends of the india-rubber plug were straight. Thus this apparatus affords great tacilities to the operator. He need not pay any attention to the wax while it is heated, for" as long as there is water in the tank D the wax cannot be overheated or burned. The bolttube I serves as a guide to the thread and prevents it from tangling, and when once the screw M is properly adjusted, the delivery of the thread requires no further attention, and is effected with the same facility as it passing from an ordinary spool, but with the advantage that it is properly waxed, well compressed, has a perfectly smooth finish, and is still warm when used by the operator.

Although I have designed the apparatus principally for usein shoeinaking, it ma)T be used to good advantage in all cases Where waxed threads are employed-such, for instance, as in harness making and similar` branches of manufacture. By my invention the thread does not have to be spooled, but can be used direct from the ball or skein, thus saving a great deal ot' time.

Anyotheryieldingsubstance--suchascorkmay be used for the plug O, although I prefer rubber.

e Having thus fullydes'cribed the nature of my Y invention,what I claim herein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of the wax-receptacle A with the Water-tank D, Water-jacket E, and chimney C, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. Attaching the wax-receptacle to the sewing-machine by passing a rod through the holloW tube I, Which tube performs the function HOSEA P. ALDRIGH.

Witnesses:

WILLARD RICE, JOHN M. SEAsoN. 

